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DVD Patrol

It’s always funny when it comes to movies or television shows. In my experience, what everyone likes is always different. The DVD Patrol has been getting ready for the new Fall TV Season and I thought it would be a great idea to assemble my TV crew and see what some of their favorite shows are. Some you can find, and some you can’t because of one thing or another. Their choices are surprising – see what you think. The Toddster might have a good one, too. Let’s see what we’ve got.

Jeff Genung

Falcon Crest (CBS)

An admitted 80s prime time soap fan, I was long ago sated by the DVD releases of Dallas and Dynasty. Those two powerhouses have been out on DVD for a long time; in the case of Dallas, I believe they’ve released every single season by now. But what about the third player in the prime time soap triumvirate, Falcon Crest? While Dynasty and Dallas were probably more popular and certainly garnered more attention, Falcon Crest was always my personal favorite, with a strong run from 1981-1990. Jane Wyman (Ronald Reagan was president at the time, and to have his ex-wife as the star of a TV show was certainly a novelty) stars as vintner Angela Channing, ruling her own wine-making dynasty with an iron fist (and a pretty snazzy wardrobe). She’s foiled of course by her salt-of-the-earth nephew, Chase Gioberti (Robert Foxworth) and his wife Maggie (Susan Sullivan), whose adventures as a stalwart reporter may have influenced yours truly a tad, in retrospect. Throw in once and future stars like Lorenzo Lamas, David Selby, Lana Turner, Gina Lollobrigida, Cliff Robertson and Cesar Romero, and you’ve got yourself a perfect vintage soap opera. Season One finally came out on DVD this year, and inspired by this column, I picked it up over the weekend. Have yourself a glass of vino or two and enjoy this wild romp in the vineyards, 80s-style.

Brian Golden

The Wonder Years (ABC)

When informed of this latest Toddster team-up, I had serious misgivings about finding an unreleased television series I’d truly like to see on DVD. For one, I really don’t watch all that much television and haven’t for years. However, a little research went a long way and I couldn’t believe it when I found out one of my favorite programs growing up, and a successful one I might add, has never graced the shelves in full-season DVD format.

ABC’s The Wonder Years, which ran from 1988 to 1993, was in many ways my introduction into the lifestyle, attitudes and experiences of a young teenager in the late 60s and early 70s. All it took for me was the introductory music of Joe Cocker belting out his legendary rendering of the Beatles’ classic “With a Little Help from my Friends” and I was hooked.